Lawsuit: Bus terminal bathroom arrests target gays

NEW YORK – A lawsuit accuses Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police of targeting gay men who use the restrooms at New York City's main bus terminal.

The class action lawsuit claims Port Authority police officers engage in discrimination by falsely arresting men perceived as gay at the Port Authority Bus Terminal on baseless charges including public lewdness and exposure.

The complaint accuses officers of targeting gays to boost quality of life arrest statistics, believing that most of those arrested will ultimately be forced to plead to lesser charges to avoid public humiliation.

The suit was filed Monday in Manhattan federal court by Winston & Strawn LLP and the Legal Aid Society. The plaintiffs are seeking a stop to the practice, as well as compensatory and punitive damages.